Lairedion on the Euro 2008 football championship, and the Indonesian connection.

Football Mania!

Lately Indonesia Matters seems to be flooded with all kinds of intellectuals and literature experts boasting to one another with pompous language and the amount of books they have read. Being somewhat bored with the creeping elitism here let me take you with me to the "triviality" of football, arguably the most important side issue in a large part of our planet (except the US, Canada, Ostrali, NZ and the Subcontinent, stand to be corrected of course) and highlight one of the most well-covered sports events in the world, Euro 2008.

Any of you people here supporting a particular nation and why? And what do you think of the action so far? Which player is considered the most sexy by the ladies and gays among us? Any questions and answers will do. My favourites Holland are doing surprisingly well and finally are playing the kind of football it has been renown for since the 70's. It's doing good for the global image of Holland where Geert Wilders seems to be forgotten, at least temporarily.

A topic totally unrelated to Indonesia at first sight but I know Indonesians are football crazy so I'm interested in your views on Euro 2008.

37 Comments on “Euro Cup 2008”

[…] Holland are doing surprisingly well and finally are playing the kind of football it has been renown for since the 70’s. It’s doing good for the global image of Holland where Geert Wilders seems to be forgotten, at least temporarily.

Some of you may not know this, but it’s a fact that Indonesia and Malaysia are major players in the underground football gambling world. I don’t mean just the number of ordinary suckers having a bet. Indonesian and Malaysian Chinese illegal bookmakers are some of the biggest fish in the business.

That’s good to know there are some players who have Indo blood. But, it’s not significant for Indo football itself. Van Persie, Van Bronchorst and Heitinga could play at the best due to their home base. They’ve been developing their careers and skills respectively in neat competition. I wish Indo have nice competition too and no wonder a new stars will come from and play for our beloved country.

I’m supporting Spain, my brother’s football crazy and has posters of all the players in his room. He’ll be giving his school leaving exams this year, and my mum gets mad when he stays up all night to watch football. So there are some football fans in the Indian sub continent after all! I like a Spanish player called David Villa, although none of my friends think he’s cute, and the hottest player according to my schoolfriends is Ronaldo.

– Aron Winter, former Dutch international player (Ajax, Lazio Roma, Inter) of Surinamese-Hindustani descent.
– Vikash Dhorasoo, former French international player (Olympique Lyon, AC Milan, Paris St. Germain). French born of Indian-Mauritian origin. Ancestors migrated to Mauritius from Andhra Pradesh.

Who in his right mind is able to like Kuta? It has been dubbed ‘the world’s most ugly place’. They missed an opportunity after Bom Bali 1 because initially after the event there were plans to tear the entire place down and rebuild everything. A missed opportunity.

Anyway, I think Oranje is playing extremely well…. I really never expected them to play like this. I didn’t even expect them to survive the Group of Death… let alone come out on top so every extra game is bonus

Yes, Indians are more fond of cricket and hockey but thats’ only because India doesn’t play football well! Many of my friends only know a single footballer, David Bekham, and that too as Posh Spice’s husband.

A Dutch exchange student has come to my brother’s class, and as we have a home theatre, he’ll be staying at our house for the duration of the matches. I’m sooo excited!

Funny that so many Indonesians support the Dutch team. Astagfirullah, their former colonizers!
Maybe nostalgia?

Nööö, I am a german fan, so too many in my sphere. But watching the dutch play is sooo entertaining. I am thinking to convert now. F*ck colonialism, when a noni is pretty and interested in my “exotic” body, who cares?

Yes, only for his football skills. I think he doesn’t look too good. Some of my friends like Wayne Rooney( former Brit colonies’ people too support them, like some Indos support the Dutch) but I think Rooney looks like Shrek.

I was terribly disappointed after Germany couldn’t make it very far in 2004. I still think that the Spanish and not the Dutch, play the best football.

Holland is going concure the europe. Van Basten is not only brilliant as striker but also makes or creates Holland more agressif attacker team. He is supported especially players likes Huntelar, he becomes productive. But, I aggre if Turkey being dark horse until meets Germany.
I think Germany still would be overcome Holland in the final.

Agree. Deserved win for Russia. They played better and didn’t let Holland to get in their own game. I do hope Russia will go all the way because they played the best football but I fear the final will be Germany-Italy and for me that would be anti-climax because scary and cowardous football would prevail again over the beauty of Portugal, Holland and Russia.

However I still believe Holland can play total football but they met the better opponent today and I’m glad for the sake of football Russia played in a similar style. Still I am proud for the way Holland played in the group stages. Which such style football can be so beautiful. They’re still young and can improve on mental toughness, maturity and physical strength.

Gus Hiddink is better. I think Van Basten is too young for leading Holland team, it seems he would be better for club first before handling national team. Holland, Portugal, Italy played with they big prestige mentally, the others Turkey, Rusian was not. Italy having good goalkeeper Buffon for leads the match on the pinalty game with Spain. But I still believe if Italy would be met Germany in upcoming final match. Germany was pretend in group stage, preparing energy for next stage.